I wish I had known: A guide to parole – Resources
20 Aug 2018
04 Sep 2018
Downloads & Links resources
- I wish I had known: A guide to parole - English – (Factsheet)
- I wish I had known: A guide to parole - Zulu – (Factsheet)
- I wish I had known: A guide to parole - Afrikaans – (Factsheet)
Description
In 2018, Zonk’izizwe Odds Development (ZOD) and Beyond the Bars, with the support of Sonke Gender Justice, developed a reentry guide targeting pre- and post-release parolees, to provide support for adjustment to life immediately after prison.
The guide essentially provides the following: a description of parole and when one may qualify for it (with an emphasis on the fact that parole is not a right, it is a privilege); some of the conditions attached to parole (e.g. not committing further crimes, seeking employment, participating in community service, etc.); and an outline of the benefits and challenges of parole, with a focus on dealing with the potential issues of reintegration (e.g. access to medical care, stigma, and finding a job).
Proper social reintegration of parolees is a crucial form of violence prevention, as it has the potential to reduce recidivism.